Powered cube turntable



NOV. 8, 1966 CRUZEN, JR 3,283,880

POWERED CUBE TURNTABLE Filed Jan. 21, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.Harry F. Cruzen, Jr.

W ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1966 H. F. CRUZEN, JR 3,283,880

POWERED CUBE TURNTABLE Filed Jan. 21, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.Hurry F. Cruzen,.Jr.

ATTORNEY 1966 H. F. CRUZEN, JR

POWERED CUBE TURNTABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 21, 1964 I NVENTOR.

Hurry F. Cruzen, Jr.

BY ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,283,880 Patented Nov. 8, 19:66

3,233,880 POWERED CUBE TURNTABLE Harry F. Cruzen, Jr., Besser Company,Alpena, Mich. Filed Jan. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 339,210 4 Claims. (Cl.198-21) This invention relates to conveyors and turntables in generaland more particularly, to a powered cube turntable for handling cubedconcrete block from a cu-bing station in various angular directions to astorage depot.

Heretofore, in the handling of cubed block, after being processed into acube at a cubing station, the cubed block have been taken by a fork lifttruck to a yard for storage. In order to mechanize this operation andsave on multiple manual handling of the cubes, it is proposed to utilizea novel turntable mounted upon a conveyor for automated processing ofthe cubes from the cubing station to a run-out conveyor for removal to astorage yard.

Accordingly a principal object of the present invention is the provisionof a novel turntable, adapted to be incorporated in a right-angledconveyor system, which has a powered conveyor mounted on top of it atthe apex to receive and pass on a cube of block in timed sequence ofadmission in one direction and exit in another direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a poweredcube turntable which gently handles cubed block carried thereon andautomatically shifts the load from one direction of travel to anotherthrough a novel chain and sprocket drive and interrelated switches andtimer for movement of the cube and return of the empty turntable toreceive a successive cube.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of anangularly rotatable turntable, incorporated in a right-angled conveyorsystem, which is self contained, has a free-wheeling and powered rollerconveyor novelly mounted thereon that is simple in design, constructionand inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear morefully hereinafter, it being understood that the invention consistssubstantially in the combination, construction location and generalarrangement of parts, all as described in detail in the followingspecifications, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and as fullypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, like reference characters refer to similar parts in theseveral views and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a generally isometric or perspective view of a right-angledconveyor system incorporating one embodiment, at its apex, of a poweredturntable and conveyor thereon illustrating the principles of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the powered turntable and conveyormounted thereon of FIGURE 1 on an en larged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the drive means for the poweredconveyor and roller means of the powered turntable;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view, on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, of a switchand timer means to trigger and sequentially turn, move off the blockcube and return the turntable to its initial position.

Now referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a right-angled conveyorsystem comprising an input portion 10, and an output portion 11, with apowered conveyor turntable generally designated 12 at its apex orjunction point. The input and output portions 10, 11 each has a blockcube C thereon, leaving the conveyor turntable exposed for betterviewing. The conveyor turntable '12 has an angular or generally circularbase portion 14, upon an upper surface of which is mounted a series ofeight support rollers 16 around the periphery thereof,

radially disposed from a central pivot 18. Side rails 20, 20 and place21 for-m the frame for the powered conveyor turntable 12 mounted on saidsupport rollers 16 thereunder. Mounted between said side rails 20, 20are a series of rollers journalled therein, such as idler rollers 25,and powered rollers 26, driven by sprockets on the ends thereof throughchain 27 and gearhead motor 30, as shown in FIGURE 3. The combination ofpowered and idler rollers provides better control over movement of thecubed block in that the block are stabilized during rotational movementof the turntable and available for instantaneous movement to the run-outconveyor when the the destination is reached.

Rotation of turntable 12 is accomplished through reversible gearheadmotor 35 and chain 36 trained thereon and through sprocket and slacktakeup means 3 7. The chain 36 has anchor block means 40 fastened atopposite ends to turntable 12. Cam limit switch means 45, 46 controlstarting and stopping, respectively, of the turntable as it arrives atthe run-out conveyor and again as it returns to its initial position inline with the input conveyor for a new cube of block.

As a cube of block C moves onto turntable 12, from input conveyor 10,powered rollers 26 advance the cube to roller 28 which has a springbiased lever 50, extended from its journal through side rail 20, andcontacting a limit switch 52, mounted by bracket 53 on plate 21, all asshown in FIGURE 4. Weight of the cube on roller 28 thus triggers switch52 when entire cube C is on turntable and rotates table degrees, or anyother desired amount, into alignment with output conveyor 11. Switches45, 46 control starting and stopping of turntable at each location.After cube weight has left turntable and the switchtimer has timed out,the turntable returns to its initial position for a successive blockcube.

From the foregoing it will now be apparent a novel device has beendisclosed enumerating the objects and advantages aforementioned. It willbe understood, of course, that the invention i susceptible of variouschanges and modifications which may be made from time to time by thoseskilled in this art, and having this disclosure, without any departurefrom the general principles or real spirit thereof. Accordingly, it isintended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, asindicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A powered conveyor device mounted upon a powered turntable adapted tobe used in a right-angled gravity fed conveyor system for cubed blockhandling comprising in combination, a generally circular turntable:base, sup port rollers spaced around and carried on an upper surface ofsaid turntable base, a roller conveyor section carried by the supportrollers of said turntable base, said conveyor section being coextensiveand in alignment with an input end of said right-angled gravity fedconveyor system in one position and coextensive and in alignment with anoutput end of said conveyor system in a second position, switch means toselectively position cubed block received on said powered conveyorsection, power means comprising a chain section anchored at oppositeends to underside of roller conveyor section, a sprocket trained in saidchain section and carried by said turntable base, a gearhead motoroperatively journalled to said sprocket to drive same, said switch meanscoupled with a timer means to initiate and rotate said turntable to saidoutput position of the conveyor system and advance the cubed blockthereto, and means including said timer means to return said conveyorsection and powered turntable to its initial position for succeedingcubed block.

2. A powered conveyor device mounted upon a powered turntable adapted tobe used in a right-angled gravity fed conveyor system for cubed blockhandling comprising in combination, a generally circular turntable base,support rollers spaced around and carried on an upper surface of saidturntable base, a roller conveyor assembly rotatably carried by thesupport rollers of said turntable base, said conveyor section being anextension of and in alignment with an input end of said right-angledgravity fed conveyor system in one position and an extension of and inalignment with an output end of said conveyor sysitem in a secondposition, chain and sprocket means to drive certain rollers of saidpowered conveyor section, idler roller means in said conveyor sectionincluding a switch-timer means located in a journal portion of the idlerroller means subject to be activated by weight loading of cubed blockthereon for advancement of the cubed block and rotation of the poweredturntable to an output position of the conveyor section, and said timermeans coupled with other means to return said conveyor section andpowered turntable to its initial position for succeeding cubed block.

3. A powered conveyor device mounted upon a powered turntable adapted tobe used in a right-angled gravity fed conveyor system for cubed blockhandling comprising in combination, a generally circular turntable base,support rollers spaced around and carried on an upper surface of saidturntable base, a roller conveyor section rotatably carried by thesupport roller of said turntable base, said conveyor section being anextension of and in alignment with an input end of said right-angledconveyor system in one position and an extension of and in alignmentwith an output end of said conveyor system in a second position,switch-timer mean mounted adjacent a journal end of a roller on saidroller conveyor section arranged to be activated by contact with cubedblock thereon to initiate rotation of the powered turntable to an outputposition of the conveyor section, first limit switch means on saidturntable arranged to halt said turntable at the output position, saidtimer means arranged to timeout passage of cubed block onto output endof conveyor section and initiate return of turntable, and second limitswitch means on said turntable to arrest return of turntable in itsinitial position for succeeding cubed block.

4. A powered conveyor turntable adapted to be used in a right-angledgravity fed conveyor system for cubed block handling comprising incombination, a generally circular turntable base, a roller conveyorsection rotatably mounted on the turntable base, powered roller conveyormeans journalled at opposite angles in side rails constituting a portionof said roller conveyor section, other idler roller conveyor meansjournalled at opposite ends in side rails constituting the balance ofsaid roller conveyor section, said roller conveyor section being anextension of and in alignment with an input end of said right-angledconveyor system in one position of rotation and an extension of and inalignment with an output end of said conveyor system in a secondposition of rotation, switchtimer means mounted adjacent a journalledend of an idler roller on said roller conveyor section arranged to beactivated by contact with cubed block thereon to initiate rotation ofthe powered turntable to said output position of the conveyor section,first limit switch means on said turntable arranged to halt saidturntable at the output position, said switch-timer means arranged totimeout passage of cubed block from output end of conveyor section toright angled conveyor system and initiate return of turntable, andsecond limit switch means on said turntable to arrest return ofturntable at it initial position for succeeding cubed block.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,871,832 8/1932Absmeier 198-727 X 2,708,995 5/1955 Saliba 19836 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN,Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. LABORDE, Examiner.

1. A POWERED CONVEYOR DEVICE MOUNTED UPON A POWERED TURNTABLE ADAPTED TOBE USED IN A RIGHT-ANGLED GRAVITY FED CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR CUBED BLOCKHANDLING COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A GENERALLY CIRCULAR TURNTABLE BASE,SUPPORT ROLLERS SPACED AROUND AND CARRIED ON AN UPPER SURFACE OF SAIDTURNTABLE BASE, A ROLLER CONVEYOR SECTION CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT ROLLERSOF SAID TURNTABLE BASE, SAID CONVEYOR SECTION BEING COEXTENSIVE AND INALIGNMENT WITH AN INPUT END OF SAID RIGHT-ANGLED GRAVITY FED CONVEYORSYSTEM IN ONE POSITION AND COEXTENSIVE AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH AN OUTPUTEND OF SAID CONVEYOR SYSTEM IN A SECOND POSITION, SWITCH MEANS TOSELECTIVELY POSITION CUBED BLOCK RECEIVED ON SAID POWERED CONVEYORSECTION, POWER MEANS COMPRISING A CHAIN SECTION ANCHORED AT OPPOSITEENDS TO UNDERSIDE OF ROLLER CONVEYOR SECTION, A SPROCKET TRAINED IN SAIDCHAIN SECTION AND CARRIED BY SAID TURNTABLE BASE, A GEARHEAD MOTOROPERATIVELY JOURNALLED TO SAID SPROCKET TO DRIVE SAME, SAID SWITCH MEANSCOUPLED WITH A TIMER MEANS TO INITIATE AND ROTATE SAID TURNTABLE TO SAIDOUTPUT POSITION OF THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND ADVANCE THE CUBED BLOCKTHERETO, AND MEANS INCLUDING SAID TIMER MEANS TO RETURN SAID CONVEYORSECTION AND POWERED TURNTABLE TO ITS INITIAL POSITION FOR SUCCEEDINGCUBED BLOCK.